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North Canterbury is the latest New Zealand region to look at its wind resource, with hopes that a wind farm could be operating there by 2008. Lines company MainPower has been looking at resources in its service area for the past two years, with the aim of finding generating opportunities to "secure, supply and protect it from shortages." South Island electricity has focused in the past on hydro development, but drier winters, increased demand on water resources, and reduced public support for hydro development are causing concern for the future. MainPower operates in North Canterbury and Kaikoura, and is planning to erect two 50 metre monitoring masts at Doctors Hills, near Waikari, and at Mount Cass, near Waipara, following initial test monitoring at a height of ten metres.